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An investigation is ongoing into the disappearance of the plaque memorializing Officer Charles Knox from its sidewalk location in the 2000 block of South Broad Street, the Philadelphia Police Department announced on Wednesday, Nov. 13.
Police discovered that Knox's plaque was missing when an officer on routine patrol noticed its absence and began investigating at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, according to police.
The Fraternal Order of Police and management at the nearby Walgreens store confirmed that permission wasn't granted to anyone to remove the plaque, police said. There was a significant amount of dirt and debris in the area, leading police to believe the plaque may have been missing for an extended time.
Footage from area Real-Time Crime Center cameras is being reviewed to see if any evidence can be gathered related to the plaque's disappearance, according to police.
Knox, a two-year veteran of the police force, had been shot and killed while responding to an incident at a Roy Roger's restaurant at 1401 Snyder Avenue on Aug. 30, 1992, according to police. He encountered a suspect holding a gun to the manager's head and ordered him to drop the weapon. The suspect lunged for Knox as a second suspect came out of the manager's office, put a gun beneath Knox's vest, and fired. After Knox fell to the ground, the suspect shot him a second time, killing him.
Both suspects were later captured and received life sentences for their roles in his murder, police said.
"The Philadelphia Police Department is committed to preserving the memory of our fallen officers," Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel said in a news release. "We are taking this matter very seriously and are asking anyone with information to please come forward."
Police are asking anyone with information about the missing plaque to contact South Detectives Division at 215-686-3013 or call the tip line at 215-686-8477.
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